Indexing-center.



J. PARKER.

INDEXING CENTER,

APPLICATION FILED 1uNE1o.1915.

1,295,363. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

JOHN PARKER,

E cRANs'roN, RHODE 1sLAND,AssIGNoR To yBROWN AND SHARE A MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPQEATIONL or RHoDE ISLAND.

To all whom imag concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PARKER, a subject'of the King of Great Britain, residmg at Cranston, in' the county of Providence and' State of Rhode'Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n .Indexing-Centers; and I 'do hereby declare `the `following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as yvvill enable others skilled in the art to which 1t appertains to make and use the same.

The invention'relates to index centers such as are used upon milling and analogous machines for supporting and indexing the Work. Y

The object of the invention is to provide novel and improved indexing lmechanism. which will not only `enable the usual adjustments and' divisions to be quicklyand conveniently made in the usual manner, but will also enable fine and unusual adjustments, which are not Within 'the range'of the 'usual indexing devices,to be quickly and accurately made Whenever occasion requires.

-To this end the invention contemplates the provision 'in an indexing center provided with the usual index plate and pin for effecting the indexings and settings generally required, of a supplemental indexingmechanism for making the finer adjustments or settings which may occasionally be required.

The supplemental indexing mechanism does `not aifect the operation of the mainindexing -mechanism by Which the usual settings may be rapidly and conveniently made.` In case'an indexing or set-ting not Within the lrange of themain indexing mechanism'is required, hovvever, an approximate indexing may be made by the main mechanism, and then the supplemental mechanism be operated to complete the indexing, or if the movement ofthe spindle requisite to secure the desired setting or indexing is slight, it

may be secured by the supplemental mechanism alone.' In addition to the features above indicated, the invention Aalso includes certain further features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and referred to in the claims. y

` 'The invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following,l `detailed de` IN'DExfINe-CETER.

` specification of Letter'sraent. p Patented Feb, 25 1919,

" Application filed-Juno, 1915. seialNo. s^,`37o.

scription of the indexing-,center illustrated therein. A

In the'drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of an index center adaptedfor either straight or rspiral'vvork and embodying the invention in its preferred form, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2 2, Figil.

The invention is shown in the drawings as embodiedfin a universal -index center adapted foreither straight orspiral Work. `Thls centersi provided With the usual head 2 in vvhich the 'Work or centersupporting spin dlellf" is mounted. The spindlef'is'in-l dex'edby'turning the index shaft 6 which is connected with the spindle bythe Worm 8 and Worm Wheel 10.` Thefshaft'isvturned by means vof an arm 12 4which extends through a slot in the outer endfof the shaft,

- and is provided at its outer end `With an index pin 14 adapted to engage the holes in the index plate 16. The plate is provided With a number of circularseries of holes, and

' the arm is free to slide through the index shaft "to bring` thepin into-register With any series. When theT spindle' is to be in- :dexed' l-the"p1n 14 is Withdrawn from the plate-16,the index shaft is turned through the proper' angular distance, and then the index pin: is engaged with the proper 'hole Jn the index/plate. lThe'index plate is provided vvlth the usual sector arms 18 for indicatin',p;the` -hole into which the index pin should be inserted after the indexing has been performed. l

-' lThe indexing mechanism thus far described is the main orusual indexing mechanism which 'is utilized to secure the index-` ings and settings usually required in regular' practice.v In embodyingthe present inven- A tion-in an index center having the constructhis supplemental indexing mechanism'comprises a shaft 20 provided withya -worm "22 engaging a worm Wheel, 24 which' is loosely mounted on thel index shaft 6 and is, 'provided With'a flange 26 to which :the index' Y plate 16 -is secured. The shaft 2O is mounted in an eccentric bushing 28 which is in turn mounted in a boss formed on a sleeve .30. The sleeve 30 is mounted on the projecting bearing 32 for the shaft 6, and is held 1n fixed position in doing straight Work b y a pin 34 which engages a hole 36 formed 1 n a projection on the sleeve. In doing splral Work the pin 34 is Withdrawn from the hole 36, and the sleeve 30 is turned durmg the cutting, through gearing 31, 33 Which connects the sleeve With the screw or other feed mechanism of the table on which the center is mounted. The uppper end of the Worm shaft 20' is provided with a knurled head 38 by which the shaft may be turned 1n indexing or setting the spindle. The shaft is also provided with a graduated dial 40 to indicate the movement imparted to the spindle by rotation of the shaft.

Assuming that the Worm 8 and worm Wheel 10 are so proportioned that one revolution of the index shaft 6 turns the spindle 4 through I9", which is the ratio used 1n the center -illustrated, then the Worm 22 and Worm Wheel 24 of the supplemental indexing mechanism may be conveniently so proportioned that one revolut1on of the shaft 20 Will turn the spindle through o or 15. There may then conveniently be 30 divisions'on the dial 40, so that the divisions will indicate the distance through which the shaft 20should be turned to turn the spindle through-LJ. The spindle may therefore be quickly and accurately turned to space the Work through any number of degrees and minutes or half minutes, by utilizing the main indexing mechanism to turn the Work to the nearest reading Within the range of this mechanism,'' and then turning the sup'- plemental index'. shaft through the required minutes'or"'half1minutes requisite to secure the desired setting. When the desired setting is within therange of the main indexing mechanism, the index plate 16 is locked in'xed position with relation to the sleeve 30 by the Worm and Worm Wheel of the supplemental indexing mechanism, so that the main mechanism may be operated in the usual manner t0 rapidly and accurately index or setthe spindle. The dial 40 is adjust- ;ably secu-red'upon the shaft 2O by a nut 42 which serves toelamp the dial against the shoulder on the shaft. When the nut is loosened the dial may be adjusted on lAthe. yshaft tolbring the zero mark on the dial into register with the coperating mark on the end of the bushing 28. This enables the indicatingir devices of the supplemental index mechanism to be brought into zero position in setting ,up work, or Whenever for any reason it is desired to bring` it into this position, without ,imparting movement to the spindle or to the index plate.

The supplemental indexing mechanism also providesi a convenient means for relatively adjusting the index pin and plate to bring the pin and a hole in the plate into register in positioning Work in exact relation to the cutter, or in bringing partially completed Work into proper relation to the cutter. It may also be utilized to effect a fine adjustment of the Work with relation to the cutter.

While the invention has been shown as embodied in an index center adapted for spiral Work, it will be understood that it may be embodied With equal advantage in machines which are adapted for doing only straight Work, and it will also be understood that the'specific construction and arrangement of the parts is not essential to the broader features of the invention, but may be varied or modified as found desirable or best suited to the construction of lindex center in which the invention is to be embodied.

Having explained the natu-re and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of mechanism in which it may be embodied, what is claimed is Y 1. An index center, having, in combination, a Work or center supporting spindle, main index mechanism comprisingan index plate provided with circular series of holes and an index pinadapted to be brought into register with any series, one of said parts being connected to turn the spindle, and a supplemental lindex mechanism constructed to turn the spindle to" supplement the settings of the mam' mechanism and graduated and provided with a radially movable index pin arm, an index plate provided with circular series of holes to be engaged by the index pm on the arm, a yWorm Wheel mounted concentrically with the shaft tol which the index plate is secured, a supplemental index shaft provided with a Worm engaging the worm wheel to turnthe plate, radial arm and spindle and provided with indicating means graduated to indicate ne settings not within the range of the index plate and arm. 3. An index center, having, in combinatlon, a work or center supporting spindle, an index shaft connected to turn the Spindle, a main index mechanism comprising an index plate provided With circular series ofl holes and an index arm carrying a pin' adapted to be brought into register with any series, a worm wheel mounted concentric with the index shaft to which the index plate is secured, a supplemental index shaft provided with a Worm engaging the Worm Wheel and With indicating means for indicating settings not Within the range of the main Aindex mechanism, a sleeve in vwhich the supplemental index shaft is mounted, and means for either holding the sleeve stationary or for connecting it with the feed mental index mechanism for making adjustments not within the range of the main index mechanism, and indicating means for the supplemental mechanism adjustable to bring it to zero position Without movement of the spindle.

5. An index center, having, in combination, a Work or center supporting spindle, an index shaftconnected to turn the spindle and provided with a radially movable index pin arm, an index plate provided with circular series ot holes to be engaged by the index pin on the arm, a Worm Wheel mounted concentrically with the shaft to Whichthe index plate is secured, and a supplemental index shaft provided With a Worm engaging the Worm Wheel and with a graduated dial or indicating the movement imparted to the spindle circumterentially adjustable about the supplemental index shat.

6. An index center, having, in combination, a Work or center supporting spindle, a main indexing mechanism therefor Jor effecting the usual indexing and setting of the spindle, and a supplemental indexing mechanism connected to turn the main indexingmechanism to etl'ect ne adjustments and settings not Within the range of the main indexing mechanism.

7. An index center, having, in combination., a Work or center supporting spindle, an index shaft connected to turn the spindle, an index pin connected to the shaft, a Worm Wheel mounted concentrically With the shaft, an index plate secured to the Worm wheel, a supplemental index shaft provided with a Worm engaging the Worm Wheel and with indicating means graduated to indicate fine settings not Within the range of the index plate and pin.

8. An index center, having, in combination, a Work or center supporting spindle.,I main indexing mechanism comprising an index plate provided with circular series of holes and an index pin adapted to be brought into register with any series, one of said parts being' connected to turn the spindle, and a supplemental index mechanism connected to turn said parts and graduated to indicate settings not lWithin their range.

9. An index center, having, in combination, a Work or center supporting' spindle, mainindexing mechanism comprising an index plate provided With circular series of holes and an index pin adapted to be brought into register With any series, one of said parts being connected to turn the spindle. a supplemental index mechanism connected to turn said parts and graduated to indicate settings not Within their range, a rotary support for the supplemental index mechanism, and means for either holding; said support stationary or connecting; it with the feed mechanism of the table upon which the center is mounted.

Jenn rennen. 

